Here's Why You Need to Visit Virginia Beach in the Winter

If I told you that winter is a perfect time of year to visit Virginia Beach, you might wonder why you would want to visit any beach during the winter that’s not in Florida or the Caribbean. Well for one, you might be surprised to find out that Virginia Beach is a popular place along the east coast for winter whale watching, as many humpback whales journey up the coast between the months of December and February. Besides whale watching, visitors can take advantage of the often mild winter temperatures and enjoy some of the natural beauty that Virginia Beach has to offer without the summer crowds. We were fortunate that during our recent January visit, we had a perfect blue sky day with temperatures in the upper 40’s. Read on to hear why I think it’s worth exploring Virginia Beach during the winter months.  

* Updated November, 2023​
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Winter is the best time to take a whale watching tour

​Between December and late February, there is a good chance if you head out on a whale watching boat, you might catch a glimpse into the life of humpback whales as they migrate north from the Caribbean. Typically, it’s the younger whales (roughly 7-8 years old) that are most often spotted in the waters just a few miles off the Virginia Beach coast. We had a great experience on the Rudee Flipper, taking a two hour tour on a winter Saturday morning.  Our amazing morning consisted of a boat ride that took us a few miles from the harbor, where the boat then spent time idling as we spotted the first of 3 juvenile humpback whales. Our boat captain and crew did an amazing job helping us get our eyes focused in the right spot each time they spotted a whale. In one case, we were treated to an up close view as the whale approached our boat while we were idling.  A volunteer crew member was on board to answer questions and provide some educational insights that also added to the experience. Both Rudee Tours and the Virginia Aquarium participate in the Whale Sense program, which is important to me, as I am a strong proponent of responsible nature tourism as a means to promote conservation. I always suggest checking credentials before taking any wildlife oriented tours. Since the tours take place during the winter months, be prepared for a potentially choppy ocean — and don’t let the sunshine fool you, it will be cold once you get out on the open ocean. While the boats do offer a climate-controlled indoor space, most people on our tour remained outside enjoying a sunny January day. No matter how warm it looks, wear heavy coats, gloves, hats and snow boots. You can see why this adventure made our list of 30 Things to Do When You Visit Virginia. 

The Mild Weather is Perfect for Hiking or Horseback Riding

​Mild winter weather makes for a good day of hiking and exploring. During the winter months, enjoy the peace and tranquility found at the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Make a reservation for a winter tour on the Blue Goose Tram (limited schedule) and download a winter trail map before you go. I love that there is so much protected natural land in the area, and look forward to doing some exploring on my next visit. If you have always wanted to go horseback riding on the beach, the off-season is the time to go in Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach Horseback operates rides from their corral directly on the beach, with half hour to one hour rides available throughout the day on weekends. We didn’t get a chance to do this on our short visit, but would love to try in the future. The horses weren’t out on the beach yet when strolled past the corral on our early morning walk, so we didn’t get a chance to see them. Children are allowed to ride alone if they are 6 years or older. 
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​You Can Try One of Many Popular restaurants Without the Summer Crowds

If you have ever taken a beach vacation in July, then you know that sometimes it’s difficult to get into your favorite restaurant without waiting in line. With over 1,200 restaurants in the area, there are plenty of choices from seafood to sandwiches and everything in between. You can’t go wrong starting your day with one of the famous made-to-order donuts from Duck Donuts, where you can personalize your fresh made cake donuts with various toppings and drizzles. Be sure to make note of their limited hours during the winter months. For lunch, it was a tough choice to decide where to eat after our boat tour, but the popular The Bee and The Biscuit was calling my name! The menu is quite extensive, but no matter what you order, you can’t go wrong starting with one of their famous cinnamon rolls. Breakfast is served all day, which makes it even harder to make a lunch choice. We also appreciated their vegetarian/vegan options. I can just picture hanging out in their friendly garden during the warm summer months (no doubt waiting a bit for a table at this popular spot).  Be sure to check their website before you go for current hours, and note that they are closed on Mondays. On my list for our next getaway to Virginia Beach is local favorite FIREBREW Bar and Grill and seafood at Blue Seafood & Spirits.

The Oceanfront Hotels are Much cheaper in Winter

The Virginia Beach oceanfront is filled with colorful hotels like you would expect to find at any popular family-friendly beach, and during the winter, there are plenty of choices and budget opportunities to stay oceanfront. The off-season brings with it a good opportunity to try a more expensive hotel that might be out of your price range in the summer, even if you can’t use all the amenities like the outdoor pools & beach side dining. From the balcony of our oceanfront suite at the Comfort Suites Beachfront, we had a wonderful view of the winter sunrise, and it was just steps to the boardwalk for a brisk morning walk. Many accommodations are often half the price of the peak summer rates. 

The Visit Virginia Beach website has plenty of other ideas to fill a weekend winter getaway, like taking a winter hike in one of the nearby state parks or visiting the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. You can also search for street art in the ViBe Creative District. And if you visit during the holiday season, don't miss the popular 3 miles of holiday lights on the boardwalk. I can’t wait to go back and do more exploring!